Recording yet another turnkey success: India’s first fully automatic forging plant for large calibre shells.

The task was complex and comprehensive. And HMT’s responsibilities covered such specialised and diverse areas as the supply of machines and equipment, erection, commissioning, production and maintenance system.

One major responsibility was finding the right suppliers for various machinery and equipment which also meant follow-up and procurement. And that’s when the job assumed complex proportions.

Because the machinery had to be interfaced and integrated into a unified production plan, this was not easy because the equipment came from different suppliers. And since the entire line had to be integrated to achieve high production rates, the various process and control activities had to be precisely coordinated and repeated faultlessly over a maze of sequences every minute. From HMT’s own production line came two highly specialised presses. The 1400 ton hydraulically operated press for cabbaging and piercing. And the 500 ton press for shell drawing operations.

Other equipment such as induction heaters, descalers, manipulators and accumulators were obtained from overseas manufacturers.

During erection and commissioning, interfacing and sequencing presented complex problems that put to test the expertise of HMT engineers, who had to interact with overseas manufacturers in order to streamline operations.

HMT’s engineers also demonstrated plant capabilities during a 45-day production run, limiting breakdown to 10%.